Walking Along Memory Lane

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters, insignia and stuff are owned by J.K. Rowling and not by me.

Chapter Seven

Getting To Know You

"Not applicable? What does that imply?" James asked slowly.

Joan replied slowly. "It says the same thing with Aunt Lavender and Mom – it means that Dad isn't dead."

Andrei and James just stared.

Joan shook her head. "Must be defective, though… I think this is the reason why Mom hid her yearbook sometime after Dad's death."

"Is-isn't that impossible?" Andrei managed to sputter. "I mean my new sibling was even recorded."

Joan sighed. "I really don't know, guys, I really don't."

"So, where will you be doing the hands-on of Devon?" Ginny asked as they were eating their dessert – homemade strawberry sundae.

"Well… I don't know." Hermione replied. "Devon, I don't suppose you know a suitable place?"

Devon politely said. "I'm sorry, I don't know any."

They resumed eating their sundae in silence after this exchange, busy with each of their thoughts. Hermione, with occasional help from Devon, has just finished telling Ginny about her predicament, starting from the time she left the Daily Prophet to deciding to go home for lunch before going on the hands-on of Devon.

Ginny was thinking along the lines of 'perfect, Hermione's found herself a possible boyfriend… Mind you, she does like blonde men a lot…'

While Hermione's went this way: What's happening to me? If I didn't know better, I must be under a spell of some sort of this guy – but that's impossible. Just before I left the Leaky Cauldron, I made sure to use that spell that was taught to us way back during the war. Yes, I know used the right spell… The spell to check whether or not I'm in my right state, to check if hexes or potions have contaminated me…

Devon, meanwhile, was near having a headache due to random memories which kept on flashing back to him.

His view was bouncing… Bouncing… Bouncing… Up… Down… Higher… Higher…

Sounds of books fall...

"Teach – is that a student?" A feminine voice shrieked.

It was very painful…

Smack!

HE felt something hit his face – someone slapped him.

"C'mon…" He said after being hit on the face.

It was also painful…

"Devon? Are you alright?"

Devon shook his head and saw Hermione peering at him uncertainly.

"You've zoned out…" Hermione said.

"I'm fine." Devon fibbed. "Just brain-freeze."

"Ok," Hermione changed the topic. "So, Devon, what do you want to shoot first – people or landscape?"

"Landscape, miss."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I thought I told you to call me 'Hermione'? Anyway, Gin," Ginny faced her. "Is there any place you could suggest?"

Ginny thought for a few seconds. "There is a place on my mind, but I hope you wouldn't mind."

Hermione nodded for her to go on.

"How about at Malfoy Manor."

Hermione stiffened.

"That is," Ginny quickly added. "If it's ok with you."

Hermione sighed. "Fine then. It's been awhile anyway." With a flick of her wrist, all the dishes and utensils they had used for the meal were in the kitchen sink, washing them. "Ok, we'll be apparating in a few minutes after I'm done with the dishes."

"Fifty points to Gryffindor for being the best first year class I have handled today." Madam Hooch shouted over the noise of the children in the field.

The Gryffindors cheered while the Ravenclaws slumped as they headed back to the castle.

"Did you hear that? Did you?" Andrei asked James and Joan rather enthusiastically. "Fifty points! We just regained the points Snape deducted and thirty more! We sure showed him!"

Joan replied quietly. "Don't you think it's a little bit, you know, biased?"

"Well," James said. "I suppose it is. Judging by our batch in the Gryffindor house, we are very lucky in Quidditch."

"Oh." Andrei said dismissively, not noticing that James was once more taking the side of Joan. "And your point is?"

True, their batch included Richard Wood, second son of former Gryffindor Quidditch captains –Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson, and Mariel Jordan, daughter of Lee Jordan, former Quidditch commentator, and Alicia Spinnet, another Gryffindor player. And of course, Andrei Weasley, James Potter, and Joan Malfoy, who each had some Quidditch player blood in their veins.

Joan, at this point, has zoned out, unaware of the conversation Andrei and James were having. Preoccupied with the thoughts of the yearbook, she looked at her watch – which has two blinking red messages on its face, due to the fact that she has been neglecting it for the past hours.

The first one said: Your mother is eating breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron with a man. The other said: She is eating lunch with the same man in your house with Aunt Ginny.

Joan smiled. "At least something good is happening to Mom. This is a start." She thought, and then her heart sank. "What if Dad is alive? How will Mom and her new acquaintance take it?" With that in mind, she felt conflicting emotions on wanting her father to be alive and accepting that he was dead, just as she had for the past years. These thoughts bothered her as they headed for the castle.

Ginny waved to Devon and Hermione as they apparated to Malfoy Manor, she had chosen to stay for the dismissal time of Sirius is nearing.

Devon blinked his eyes, and where Ginny had stood before them a few moments ago was a massive mansion on sprawling grounds.

"Wow…" He said under his breath as his eyes took in every detail of the location, from the well-kept grounds to the stone-gray mansion to the intricate carvings on the wooden doors. As he swept the place with his eyes, he decided then and there that it was very magnificent yet with one flaw – it was seemingly lifeless. Lifeless despite the blatant presence of colorful flowers of every kind and shrubs, bushes, and trees that dot the grounds and line the path towards the manor.

He looked around and saw two people who were sitting on the rim of the marble fountain. The woman was had a blonde child on her lap, who she was helping dip the fingers in the fountain. The child was giggling. Then the child, a girl of two, seems to have felt the gaze of Devon, faced him and called out. "Dada!"

"Well, what do you think?" Hermione asked, breaking the reverie of Devon. "Is it good?"

Devon closed his eyes and shook his head. The fountain was not turned on and is void of water. There were no other presence of humans except him and Hermione. He slowly tore his eyes away from the fountain to face Hermione. "Did you -?" He gestured towards the fountain.

"Did I what?" Hermione replied, looking where Devon was pointing. "Oh, that. Do you want me to turn it on? You know, fill it with water?"

"Um… No, maybe later…" Devon replied, very confused. "Are we the only people here?"

"Yes," Hermione replied quietly. "Yes, it has been sometime since my daughter and I have left this place."

"Mistress Hermione!"

"Ack!" Hermione cried out as a house elf popped between her and Devon. "Saddy! You surprised me!"

Saddy the house elf curtsied. "Mistress Hermione! Saddy is cleaning when Saddy hear pop from garden. Saddy sees Mistress Hermione in garden but Saddy not see young Miss Joan. Saddy goes to garden to welcome Mistress Hermione. Saddy sees Mistress Hermione since long time."

Hermione smiled. It has been long since she has accepted the fact that house elves would die first before wanting to be set free, so she made a compromise with them. The house elves in exchange for their service would have benefits like sick leaves and salaries. Nevertheless, the piggy bank in Joan's room always seems to be heavier after the payday of the house elves.

"Saddy would make tea. Saddy would bake cookies. Saddy would -." The house elf rambled on.

"Saddy," Hermione interrupted. "It's ok. We just had lunch. Maybe later we'll have tea, but not now. By the way," Indicating Devon. "I would like you to meet –."

"Master Draco!" Saddy exclaimed, seeing Devon, and bending down on her knees, nose touching the ground. "Master Draco comes back after long time! Saddy welcome Master Draco back!"

Devon looked from the house elf to Hermione awkwardly and mouthed 'what?'

Hermione bent down to Saddy. "Saddy, he's not Draco," she said the name with difficulty after years of not saying it out loud. "He's Devon Black, ok? Draco is not coming back. Don't you remember? Saddy, please, stand up, that's an order."

Reluctantly, Saddy stood up. "Saddy bound serve Malfoys. Saddy believe Master is back. Saddy sees Master. Master is back."

Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "Fine. Believe what you want." She said rather bitterly. "Just don't call him with his name." It was very hard for her to have a house elf believe that Draco has come back when she knows that he'll never do. "Go. Continue cleaning, I'll call you when I need you."

As Saddy popped into the house, Hermione rubbed her throbbing temple. "Merlin…"

Devon meanwhile was pondering on what transpired in the past minutes.

The house elf… She called me Draco… Who is he? The fountain… What happened at the fountain? Draco… Draco…Draco… Fountain… Child… Woman… Dada?

Then it hit him.

It was all just a memory. The woman was Hermione.

Devon furrowed his brow.

I am in Hermione's memory? What about the house elf? Who's Draco?

The name rang in his mind, as though it struck a vein in his brain and was reverberating repeatedly in his head. The name was very familiar. Then again, so were the house, the house elf, and the fountain, Hermione… His head ached with all the information and memory overload.

He faced Hermione, who was ashen.

"Hermione, are you alright?" He asked, despite the irony of the situation that he himself was shaken.

Hermione took a deep breath. "I hope so… Let's go inside, I believe we need to talk."

Both of them headed towards the huge wooden door, all thoughts of a photo shoot hands-on forgotten.

As Joan and her fellow Gryffindors entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts room, they were not surprised to see the Slytherins there since they know that were to share the class with them. What surprised them is the presence of Professor McGonagall in the room.

"Hurry Gryffindors, hurry and be seated, you are already late." She ordered while the Slytherins sniggered.

Professor McGonagall looked around the room when all of the students had sat. "I believe all of you are wondering why I am here right now since this is Defense Against the Dark Arts." She said, walking around in front. "It so happens that your supposed to be teacher for the year, Professor Nibblesqueak, has to go back to his country after he fell from a staircase when it moved just as he was about to step on it. It was five floors high."

The class cringed as the teacher paused.

"Nevertheless, don't worry, he is still alive but needs treatment both in his mind and body. Thus, our dilemma of having no DADA teacher."

"Blimey," Andrei whispered to James. "When Dad told me this position was jinxed, I didn't believe it would be THIS jinxed."

"And so, as of now, while no teacher is available for the position -."
The door swung open and Professor Snape entered, sneering maliciously at the Gryffindors.

Professor McGonagall continued. "-It was decided that Professor Snape would take over for the time being."

"Thank you Saddy." Hermione said, taking a cup of strong tea from the table as Saddy bowed and disappeared with a pop.

Hermione took a sip and placed the cup back on the tray. "I believe we owe each other an explanation."

Since the time that Hermione heard of the fact that there was some sort of mystery about Devon, she had been rather intrigued. But now, she decided to voice out what has been bothering her mind for quite some time.

Devon was once more looking around the house as he was seated in a very comfortable sofa in the living room of the Malfoy Manor. The house was very immaculate and elegant. Almost everywhere you look is the engraved Malfoy family crest. Devon's heart was beating fast. He just knows he is on the right track and is closer to discovering his identity. When Hermione called his attention, though, he immediately faced her.

"Would it be ok if I ask you personal questions?" He was asked.

Devon smiled feebly as he nodded at her.

"Are you sure that you are not related to Sirius Black?" Seeing Devon's reluctant face, she quickly added. "I mean, what made you say that you are not?"

"I really," Devon slowly phrased his answer. "Don't know. All I know is that something happened to me that wound me up in a hospital void of knowledge of identity and such."

Hermione nodded for him to go on.

"A spell was cast on me to convert my memories into my dreams. One of which led me," He hesitated. "To seek you."

"Me?" Hermione was confused.

"Um, I guess so. I had something akin to premonitions and the like," He thought of the dreams. "It's like that you will be the one to help me realize my real self. Didn't you ever wonder why I was at Knockturn Alley at the nick of time?"
Hermione was taken aback. "Actually, yes… It has been disturbing me – why you were at that suspicious place at that time…"

Devon looked straight at her eyes. "It was through a premonition that I was awakened at that time of the night to be led – to you." He lowered his eyes. "Anyway, in answering your question, yes, Sirius Black seems to be a familiar name but..."

Hermione was silent for a few moments when Devon cut himself off. She suddenly smiled. "I have an idea; I think I can help you out to see if you ARE related to the Blacks."

Devon's eyes brightened. "Really?"

"Really, really." Hermione rang a bell which came with the tea set.

Pop.

"Master and Mistress Malfoy?" Saddy asked cautiously.

Hermione sighed and did not bother to correct the house elf. "Saddy, can you please get the family tree in – Draco's room? His childhood room not the master's bedroom that we occupied. Thank you."

Pop. Saddy was gone.

Hermione sipped some tea.

Pop. Saddy was back.

"Here, Mistress."

"Thank you. Kindly take away the tea set now."

Pop.

"Ok," Hermione unrolled an ancient rug on the table.

Devon read the elegant script on top. "Malfoy-Black Family Tree."

Hermione explained along the way as she traced over the names on the family tree. "First of all, I'm Hermione Granger-Malfoy, wife of Draco Malfoy, who is the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. That's why we're here in the Malfoy Manor. Narcissa Malfoy's maiden name is Black." She indicated the branch at Narcissa's name. "The Blacks and Malfoys are both pureblooded wizarding families since a long time ago, dates back even before Hogwarts was built. Then again," She paused as she pointed the name of Sirius Black on the tapestry, which was gold unlike the most of the names, which were gray. "They were both very, let's say, discriminative in nature. They removed and disowned who ever they think was not worthy – like marrying a half blood, associating with Muggles… During the last few years of my husband's life, we were fixing the tree – we restored the names that have been erased and made it to be in better glory than those stuck-up purebloods." She traced the gold name "Draco Malfoy" slowly. "Yet, we weren't able to finish the task, due to unavoidable reasons."

"I'm sorry." Devon quietly answered.

Hermione shook her head. "No, it's ok. Besides, I think there is a reason for everything, why he died and so on. Ok," She muttered a spell that would help her locate 'Devon Black' on the tapestry. All the scorched spots on the tapestry flashed. "Well, I guess your name isn't here but there is this possibility that your name remains to be recovered." She heaved a sigh. "But, I never did master how my husband recovers the names. Only a full-blooded Malfoy or Black could do that now."

Devon had an idea. "Hey, if I am related to the Malfoy-Black family of yours, I can do it. Thus, I will know to whom I am related to."

Hermione clapped her hands. "Brilliant! Let's go upstairs and look for Draco's parchments; I know the spell for recovering the family tree is there." And with that she took Devon's hand to head to the staircase.

"Yes, Ms. Malfoy?" Snape turned abruptly to face the class as he was writing notes on the board.

"Professor," Joan carefully started. "I do believe kappas are not from Mongolia."

Snape's face contorted into a mixture of annoyance and approval. "Where in the world did you learn that Ms. Malfoy?"

"I read in one of the books of one of my parents that kappas are Japanese." Joan said in her matter-of-fact tone.

Snape slicked his greasy hair and said in his painfully calm voice. "Ok, Ms. Malfoy. I will NOT reprimand you for questioning my teaching but instead send you off to a mission to find that book and show it to me."

Joan got up to go to the library when Snape spoke once more.

"But not in the library, Ms. Malfoy," He sneered at Joan's disbelieving face. "I want you to bring your parent's copy."

"Is it this? No, it's not." Hermione tossed yet another compilation of parchments as she rummaged in the many boxes in Draco's bedroom. "Where could it be?"

Devon caught the latest compilation that Hermione threw. It was a scrapbook. Devon knew he should not look into personal thing but did not Hermione tell him earlier that he could rummage and help her look for the parchment? Curiosity got over him as he turned the pages of the scrapbook as he sat at the opposite end of the room from where Hermione was.

"Dark Ages." The title page said.

Devon turned another page. There was the inscription: "To our future child/children, may they be enlightened on how history came to be. From your parents, Draco and Hermione Malfoy."

He turned to the next page. There was a picture of a tall blonde man with a wicked glint in his eyes. The caption read: "Lucius Malfoy: Deatheater, a right hand man of Voldemort, and lastly, your grandfather."

Devon shook his head as he turned pages each with pictures, articles and captions, which were written by either Hermione of Draco.

At a picture of Hermione wearing Hogwarts robes along with a man with unruly black hair and another one with red hair and freckles. "The Golden Gryffindor Trio in front of Hogwarts sometime before graduation: Your mom with best friends Harry Potter (a.k.a. Saint Potter, The-Boy-Who-Never-Seems-To-Die, Potty, Scarhead…) and Ronald Weasley (a.k.a. Weasel, Carrot-top…).

At a picture of Hermione and a blonde man inside a room which is similar to a common room: "Hermione and I in the Room of Requirement, seventh year: I was her secret boyfriend then, if Father finds out, we would be in great danger."

At a picture of the same blonde man, who by now Devon deduced was Draco Malfoy, who was smiling and wearing a white robe with his hand in salute while Harry Potter and Ron Weasley was at the background horsing around waving their wands that sprout fireworks with words like "Congrats to Mal-ferret" and "Good luck Ferret Boy": "During the day that Draco pledged allegiance to the Light side: Prof. Dumbledore presided over the ceremony, while the rest of the Order of the Phoenix stood as witness. It WAS supposed to be solemn." And another caption underneath it: "Yeah, but thanks to Scarboy…"

Another page contained a written transcription of one of Dumbledore's speeches, underneath was the caption: "To make the long story short, here's what he wants to tell us: due to the imminent war, we, seventh years and some sixth years, were allowed, even advised, to marry right after graduation and for the sixth years, during the end of the year. They say it was to protect the wizarding race. I was one of those who gave birth and was wed during that period, when everyone was in a frenzy of procreation due to forthcoming 'death spree' as the olden wizards called it."

At a picture Harry, Ron and Draco wearing gray robes and each were brandishing their wands as though a sword: "One of secret Auror trainings at Hogwarts before graduation: Selected students were chosen to be trained as Aurors. They continued the training even after graduation. But in this photo, ignore them, they're just showing off."

At a picture of a red-haired girl in graduation attire: "Ginny's graduation: The day that Ron, Harry and Draco proposed to Lavender, Ginny and I."

At a picture of Hermione and Draco, with Harry and Ron and their partners, they were all wearing white: "Group Wedding: Shortly after Ginny's graduation, we were secretly married but with the knowledge of all the parents except the Malfoys."

At a picture of Hermione, Ginny and Lavender in white robes: "Mediwitch training of Hermione, Ginny and Lavender: After the wedding, the women were stopped from their Auror training and instead were taught Mediwitch courses."

At a picture of the three of the women, clutching their semi-bloated bellies: "Pregnant: Shortly after this discovery, Draco's father became suspicious of his actions (your father was a Light Side spy) since he was either late for Deatheater meetings or he doesn't come at all."

At a picture of Hermione and Draco in a living room: "In hiding: Draco was found out by his father but thanks to our Potions Master, we were able to go into hiding quickly."

An article about the war breaking out into the open, below was the caption: "Two months after hiding: Draco finally blatantly showed where his loyalties lie as left to join the battle."

The following pages were merely in Hermione's writing: "One assassination attempt to another bombarded him and I. Thank Merlin nothing did end our lives then and there. His name seems to be in the top ten of the death list of the Deatheaters. How ironic it was – Lucius Malfoy, the right hand of Voldemort, was in-charge of the assassination plots against the Light side and is very relentless in killing his very own son. He took betrayal heavily."

Beside the picture of a baby: "After months of worrying, I gave birth to our child, Joanna Leticia, one month earlier than the due date. Luckily, Draco was there."

Devon turned several pages until he came to a picture and article on Harry Potter. Hermione's writing said: "Two years later, Harry was able to bring about the downfall of Voldemort. The Deatheaters scattered, though there was a distinct decrease in number. Lucius Malfoy was eliminated shortly after the Downfall."

The next page had a hint of an impending predicament: "For three years, our family was living peacefully."

Devon stared at the next page; there was a picture of the remnants of what appeared to be once a magnificent building and an article.

Sentences and phrases jumped at him as he read.

"International Wizarding Convention for Unity held in Europe ends in tragedy… Statistics say fifteen witches and wizards: injured… one presumed dead… Head of Department of International Relations Draco Malfoy's body is missing… he is presumed dead… only pieces of his clothing were found… nearest impact… authorities are sure… he is dead… Explosion… Unprotected by charms muggle heating device… Cinders… Turned to ashes… Possible that he was incinerated… Condolences to his family, most especially to his widow, Mrs. Hermione Malfoy…"

Devon slowly flipped to the next page. It was the obituary of Draco Malfoy.

Here was the last caption of Hermione: "Isn't ironic for him to be able to survive the war only to die during peacetime?"

That was the last page of the scrapbook.

Devon quickly placed the scrapbook on the pile where Hermione tossed the other compilations. He felt guilty reading the scrapbook but there was nothing he could do now.